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2026 Frozen Four

Of course I can't resist a comment on play-by-play guys, despite earlier vows. It was maddening to see the yammer yammer yammer style go national. Was this to introduce new fans to the tedium of endless player résumés? The only action he called, other than when "the dangerous Edwards" or "the dangerous Dunne" had the puck, was after a shot on goal, and not always then. Three color guys/gals is two too many.
I thought Madison Packer did a pretty good job, made relatively insightful comments, asked decent questions, as a former player would; I'd never heard her do that sort of thing before (maybe she does so on PWHL games?)

The one thing we were saved from Bucci in particular, and men's NCAA games in general was endless telling of who's NHL draft pick the player is and which round he was drafted it. That starts in earnest on Thursday.
 
Of course I can't resist a comment on play-by-play guys, despite earlier vows. It was maddening to see the yammer yammer yammer style go national. Was this to introduce new fans to the tedium of endless player résumés? The only action he called, other than when "the dangerous Edwards" or "the dangerous Dunne" had the puck, was after a shot on goal, and not always then. Three color guys/gals is two too many.

One of the benefits of being hard of hearing is not paying attention to sports announcers.
 
I thought Madison Packer did a pretty good job, made relatively insightful comments, asked decent questions, as a former player would; I'd never heard her do that sort of thing before (maybe she does so on PWHL games?)

The one thing we were saved from Bucci in particular, and men's NCAA games in general was endless telling of who's NHL draft pick the player is and which round he was drafted it. That starts in earnest on Thursday.
As a Sirens fan I haven't been impressed at all by her on PWHL games so I guess that's good to see.
 
Bucci didn't bother me but maybe I'm just used to him enough by now that I tune him out.

That and the potpourri of amateurs that we endure during the regular season games makes him seem like almost an upgrade lol.

Bucci did get the "It's a Great Day for Hockey in Madison (or Wisconsin)" in ala "Do You Believe in Miracles?" right at the end. Cheesy and I'd hate it if I was supporting another program, but made me smile for sure.

What gets me is the inevitable color commentator expressing that they're glad that the refs are "letting them play" coz it's for the championship. So the best way to decide a championship is to allow infractions that should be called? That benefits the team infracting and hurts the other team and in the end is the opposite of letting it be decided on the ice. The refs are still making a decision by not calling the penalty and giving the advantage to the team committing them.

Not just this game or sport. See it in hoops and football all the time too and it's a stupid take by the commentators.

Oh well... same as it ever was.
 
Of course I can't resist a comment on play-by-play guys, despite earlier vows. It was maddening to see the yammer yammer yammer style go national. Was this to introduce new fans to the tedium of endless player résumés? The only action he called, other than when "the dangerous Edwards" or "the dangerous Dunne" had the puck, was after a shot on goal, and not always then. Three color guys/gals is two too many.
At first I was excited to see Bucci doing the game, then not so much. I hadn't seen him call a game in a long time. I didn't like the OT winning call from last year very much but I think Bucci's call of the end of the game yesterday will work good in the pre-game Natty montage; or maybe they will use the radio call instead. I'd love to have Paul Braun's voice on there somewhere.
 
What gets me is the inevitable color commentator expressing that they're glad that the refs are "letting them play" coz it's for the championship. So the best way to decide a championship is to allow infractions that should be called? That benefits the team infracting and hurts the other team and in the end is the opposite of letting it be decided on the ice. The refs are still making a decision by not calling the penalty and giving the advantage to the team committing them.

Not just this game or sport. See it in hoops and football all the time too and it's a stupid take by the commentators.

Oh well... same as it ever was.
I say this all the time, especially in overtime. I'm more pointed. My response is always, "So, you're letting the team that cheats the most win?"
 
One thing I thought was impossible to miss yesterday was how vastly different the Badgers and Buckeyes' demeanors were on the benches and in the off ice areas.

No judgement, but the Buckeyes seemed like they were having zero fun. As if fun is only permissible if you win, and not before then. Super militant. Their goal scorers exuded joy, but that was about the only time any sort of happy emotion was apparent.

Contrast that with the Badgers, who seemed to be laughing and smiling all game long in those moments when the puck was not in play.
 
Contrast that with the Badgers, who seemed to be laughing and smiling all game long in those moments when the puck was not in play.
Wisconsin led for most of the game. It's hard work playing from behind, especially against a team like Wisco'.
 
One thing I thought was impossible to miss yesterday was how vastly different the Badgers and Buckeyes' demeanors were on the benches and in the off ice areas.

No judgement, but the Buckeyes seemed like they were having zero fun. As if fun is only permissible if you win, and not before then. Super militant. Their goal scorers exuded joy, but that was about the only time any sort of happy emotion was apparent.

Contrast that with the Badgers, who seemed to be laughing and smiling all game long in those moments when the puck was not in play.
I don't know if people have seen this, or other videos of 'the moment'. This is from Friday night, during overtime, when UW was challenging for an upgrade of the penalty to a major, Their season hanging in the balance. Clearly, the pressure was getting to them.


(The song is "Mr Brightside" by the Killers.)
 
When Ohio State's girls came to the bench gesturing that Wisconsin covered the puck in the crease I can't help wondering what they saw that the refs didn't on the review? It makes no differenc now but I'm definitely curious.
 
When Ohio State's girls came to the bench gesturing that Wisconsin covered the puck in the crease I can't help wondering what they saw that the refs didn't on the review? It makes no differenc now but I'm definitely curious.
The ESPN coverage, with multiple camera angles show everything one needs to understand the call the refs made regarding the play and the challenge.
 
The one thing we were saved from Bucci in particular, and men's NCAA games in general was endless telling of who's NHL draft pick the player is and which round he was drafted it. That starts in earnest on Thursday.
He also couldn't use his quote on a player from their junior coach on why each one is the best. He's not really great in my opinion but ESPN loves him. He's a newer Barry Melrose without any real hockey experience.
 
Bucci's enthusiasm for hockey INCLUDING women's hockey, grants him a lot of latitude with me.

A lot of these hockey insiders/media types operate as though women's hockey is either nonexistent or not worthy of paying attention to. Bucci is clearly not in that group.
 
Bucci's enthusiasm for hockey INCLUDING women's hockey, grants him a lot of latitude with me.

A lot of these hockey insiders/media types operate as though women's hockey is either nonexistent or not worthy of paying attention to. Bucci is clearly not in that group.
I guess the thing that rubbed me the wrong way was Jason Ross did the semis and finals last year, and the semis this year. He had the 'historical knowledge' of the rivalry. But Bucci "big-footed" him to come in and take the final. He did OK, but it should have been Ross' game to do.
 
When Ohio State's girls came to the bench gesturing that Wisconsin covered the puck in the crease I can't help wondering what they saw that the refs didn't on the review? It makes no differenc now but I'm definitely curious.
The initial overhead shot definitely made it look like the puck was underneath the fallen Badger skater at the top of the crease. (Which it was, just not covered.)

It was only the side view that revealed the puck was loose, at which point McNaughton was able to find it and get her glove on it.

Easy to see how a player in that scrum might have thought the Badger skater was on top of it.
 
I guess the thing that rubbed me the wrong way was Jason Ross did the semis and finals last year, and the semis this year. He had the 'historical knowledge' of the rivalry. But Bucci "big-footed" him to come in and take the final. He did OK, but it should have been Ross' game to do.
That's fair. And I can see where Bucci's "the dangerous Edwards" or "the dangerous Dunne" could get repetitive or overdone.

But it's nice to see these world-class athletes get the reverence they deserve, from a name-brand voice. It's validating.

I'm sure Jason Ross was great too, but he doesn't carry the cache of Buccigross.
 
I guess the thing that rubbed me the wrong way was Jason Ross did the semis and finals last year, and the semis this year. He had the 'historical knowledge' of the rivalry. But Bucci "big-footed" him to come in and take the final. He did OK, but it should have been Ross' game to do.
Agree with you both. Appreciate Bucci's love of "Cawlidge Hawkey." But I've grown to love the work of Jason Ross at the Frozen Four the last couple of years. He mixes the right level of professionalism with letting in a little bit of the "whhhoooaaaaa" excitement we fans feel in "holy shit" moments like a puck just going over the crossbar.

Given the number of times I've rewatched last year's FF I like Ross's voice as the soundtrack.

I also really appreciate that the 2006 men's title was called by Gary Thorne. With apologies to Doc Emerick, Gary is my all time big hockey game voice. He and Bill Clement on ESPN in the 90s when I was a kid were mic magic.
 
I’m sure posters here remember, but the wcha absurdly didn’t have trophies for the first many years of its existence. Buccigross was involved in getting them trophies.
 
I’m sure posters here remember, but the wcha absurdly didn’t have trophies for the first many years of its existence. Buccigross was involved in getting them trophies.
That's true for the WCHA tournament trophy. I'm not sure that it is true for the regular season travelling trophy. Maybe Arlen can correct or expand on this.
 
Agree with you both. Appreciate Bucci's love of "Cawlidge Hawkey." But I've grown to love the work of Jason Ross at the Frozen Four the last couple of years. He mixes the right level of professionalism with letting in a little bit of the "whhhoooaaaaa" excitement we fans feel in "holy shit" moments like a puck just going over the crossbar.

Given the number of times I've rewatched last year's FF I like Ross's voice as the soundtrack.

I also really appreciate that the 2006 men's title was called by Gary Thorne. With apologies to Doc Emerick, Gary is my all time big hockey game voice. He and Bill Clement on ESPN in the 90s when I was a kid were mic magic.
The moment I remember from Gary Thorne and the 2006 men's NCAAs: the game was Wisconsin vs Maine, and at a break, Thorne was interviewing Mark Johnson, who had just won his first women's championship. And somehow the interchange informed me that Thorne himself was a Maine alum. Up until that moment, there had not been the slightest hint that I had picked up on that Thorne might have any 'rooting interest' in the outcome of the UW-Maine game. True professionalism in his call of the game.
 
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